Toy railway.



A. P. SEILS.

TOY RAILWAY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25,1918.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

ALBERT P. SEILS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

TOY RAILWAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed March 25, 1918. Serial No. 224,621.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT P. Sens, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved form of amusement device and its object is to provide means whereby the movement of a rapidly moving toy car is arrested, the direction of its movement is reversed and the car is then dropped on a track supported at a lower level.

With this and other objects in view, this invention presents a combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully illustrated in the drawings described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereo In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy railway.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the switch for arresting and reversing the movementof the railway car.

In the several figures of the drawings like reference numerals, indicate like parts.

The track on which the toy car 1 is adapted to travel comprises two sections 2 and 3 which are inclined in opposite direction and which are supported one above the other as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose the standards 4 and 5 are provided each of which has a suitable bolster at the top in which the ends of the cross bars 6 and 7 of the track section 2 are adapted to rest.

The lower track section 3 rests on the cross bars 8, 8 which are provided On the sides of the standards 4 and 5 at a suitable height thereon, to hold the track section 3 on an inclined plane that is sloping away from the end of the track section 2.

Each of the track sections 2 and 3 is made up of a pair of channels 9 and 10 which are bound together at the bottom by a series of tie rods 11. These tie rods hold the channels 9 and 10 properly spaced apart so that the wheels 12, 12 on which the toy car 1 is mounted, engage the channels 9 and 10 and guide the car during its downward travel on either of the track sections 2 or 3.

For the purpose of arresting the motion of the toy car 1 at the end of the track section 2 and reversing is movement as well as dropping it from the track section 2 to the track section 3, a suitable switch is moiuited to swing at the end of the track section 2 which switch automatically performs the work above mentioned and automatically resets itself as soon as the toy carhas passed over it.

This switch comprises a short section 13 of a track similar to either of the track sections 2 or 3. This section 13 is pivotally mounted on the outwardly extended arms 14 and 15that are fastened to either side of the end of the track section 2.

Suitable pivot studs 16 and 17 which are provided on each side of the switch track section 13 are mounted to rock in the trunnion bearings 18 and 19 which bearings are provided in the arms 14 and 15 respectively. The position of the studs 16 and 17 on the switch track section 13, is such that the rear end thereof is heavier than the front end of the switch for a purpose that will presently appear.

As shown in Fig. 2, the outer side of each of the channels 9 and 10- forming the track section 2 is undercut at an angle as'shown at 20 in this figure, while the outer side of each of the channels forming the switch track section 13 has an angular projection which corresponds and forms a complement to the undercut portion 22 of the channels 9 and 10 to allow the ends of the channels 9 and 10 to overlap the ends of the channels formtrack section 13 projects below the undercutend portion of the track section 2, allows the heavier side or the rear end of the switch track section 13, to holdthefront end thereof in engagement with the end of the track section 2, owing to the tendency of the heavy end to rotate the track section in a clockwise direction.

To prevent the switch from rotating around its pivot studs 16 and 17, a pair of outwardly projecting studs 21 and 23 are provided on each side of the rear portion of the switch track 13, which pins, engage suitable grooves 25 and 26 one in each top edge of the arms 14 and 15. In this way the front as well as the rear portion of the switch track section 14 is held against rotation in a clockwise direction.

Between the channels forming the switch track section 1.3, and in line with the pivot pin 16 and 17, mounted a brake bar 27. One end of the brake bar normally projects up and out between the channels of the switch and acts as a supplementary stop for the railway car 1 when it runs onto the switch.

The operation of the device is as follows:

@111 the release of car 1 at the upper end of the track section 2 the car begins to run down the inclined track section with increasing speed until it reaches the end thereof where it runs onto the switch section 13.

The weight of the moving car causes tl e switch to tilt, the front end dropping until it rests on the lower track, the back end of the switch rising. In this tilted position... the switch forms an inclined plane up which the car must run and by which it is quickly brought to a stop and down which it can then run backward on to the lower track, on which it can travel to the end thereof.

The upper end of: the channels forming the lower track section 3 are widened to receive the ends or the switch section 13, when it tilts into engagement therewith with a toy car running off from it.

The swinging brake bar 72'? operates to stop the movement oi the car when it engages the front thereof and thus facilitates the quick return movement thereof onto the lower track section As soon as the car runs ott from the switch section 13, the switch tilts back by reason of the heavy rear end thereof. The tilting motion arrested by the engagement of the front end of the switch track section with the rear end of the track section 2 with which it is brought into alinement, in which position it is held against further movement by means of the studs 21 and which engage the grooves and :26 provided. in thenrms let and 15.

Although onl one switch is shown in the accompanying drawing, it will be understood that uch a switch can be attached to the end of each section in a series of track sections to increase the track area of the amusement device.

i claim- 1. The combination with a support of a se ries of superimposed track sections mounted on said support and sloping away from each other with the ends of said track sections placed above each other, a short track section forming a continuation of said first named track sections provided at the lower end thereof, said short track section being pivotally mounted near its middle, a car mounted to travel down onto one side of said short track section, said short track section being adapted to tilt downwardly and reauwardly by the weight of said car and arrest the movement thereof as it travels up on the opposite side of said short track section.

'2. The combination with a support of a series of superimposed track sections mounted on said support and sloping away from each other with the ends of said track Sections placed one above the other, a short track section forming a continuation. of said first named track sections provided at the lower end thereof, said short track section being pivotally mounted near its middle, a car adapted to travel down over said track sections, one end of said short track section being adapted to tilt downwardly and wardly by the weight of said moving car to engage the end of the track section mounted oelow said short track section, the tilting motion of said short track section being adapted to arrest the movement of said car as it travels up on the opposite end at said short track section, and reverse the movement of said car and guide it onto the track section below.

3. The combination with a support of a series of superimposed. track sections mount ed on said supports and sloping away from each other, a pair of arms mounted on the end of said track section, a switch mounted to swing between said arms the front end of said switch being adapted to engage the lower end of said track section and form a continuation thereof, said front end of said switch being held in engagement with the lower end of said track section, by the weight of the rear end of said switch, a brake bar mounted to swing on said switch to arrest the movement of said car when running onto said switch, the weight of said moving car being adapted to tilt the front end of said switchand bring said switch into engagement with the upper end of the track section mounted below said switch.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

ALBERT P. SEILS.

rear- Go'niee of this; atent me be obtained for five cents each, b addressing the Semmissioner at Patents.

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